This blog is my exploration of ideas and websites that may have potential in helping educators integrate technology in schools. All ideas presented here are mine alone and do not necessarily represent my campus or school district.

Saturday, May 17, 2008

“Digital Storytelling is the modern expression of the ancient art of storytelling. Digital stories derive their power by weaving images, music, narrative and voice together, thereby giving deep dimension and vivid color to characters, situations, experiences, and insights. Tell your story now digitally.”- Leslie Rule, Center for Digital Storytelling

I just learned about the Microsoft download, Photo Story 3, from a post on Classroom 2.0. I love how user-friendly this program is and that I can edit my photos from within Photo Story 3. The basic steps I followed are...

Import pictures

Edit pics if desired

Save and close the edit window

Drag and drop to arrange pictures.

Add titles to pics.

Save your project.

Narrate pictures and customize motion.

Add music. You can select music from your music files or create music in the program.

If you create music, it will start and end with your story.

Preview- Use the back arrows to go back to any part of the story and make changes.

Save again.

In the final step, output the story into a format that is suitable for viewing. The .wp3 file is a working file, not a finished product.

Click next, and choose one of the saving options.

The file being created is a movie file that will play back in your Media Player.

View your final story.

To make changes, you'll need to open the project file, make your changes, and then save as another movie or replace the first one.

I imagine, ideas for using this in the classroom are endless. My daughter just informed me that her class used PS3 to create a video for the new 4th graders on campus. They also used this program to make commercials for products they created. I would love to know how others are integrating this in the classroom.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

I just finished a very intense 40 hours of Intel's Thinking with Technology master teacher training at our Regional Service Center. The 10 modules focused on higher-order thinking skills through the use of online tools. During the course, we learned researched based instructional strategies for teaching and assessing thinking skills using technology. We created individual curriculum units that integrate the use of Intel's online thinking tools, are aligned to our state standards, and support a project based approach to learning. Once you are trained as a master teacher, you're required to train 10 other teachers in this course. I think the online tools in this training are more appropriate for teachers in grades 4 and up than for the primary grades. Overall, this training was beneficial, and I plan on enrolling in Intel's Essentials Course.